Muffler flange splitting tool



June 19, 1956 T. R. GRAUMANN MUFFLER FLANGE SPLITTING TOOL Filed Dec. 19, 1955 55 22 i //A Y $50 /2g 26 will INVENTOR.

TheoR.Graumann.

United States Patent Oflice Patented June 19, 1956 MUFFLER FLANGE SPLITTIN G TOOL Theodore R. Graumann, Ingleside, Tex.

Application December 19, 1955, Serial No. 554,110

Claims. (Cl. 3091) This invention relates to splitting tools for mufller flanges.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a muffler flange splitting tool which will effect an economy of time and labor in garages, mufller shops or service stations.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a muffler flange splitting tool of the above type which will permit the removal of mufflers without torches.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a muffler flange splitting tool bearing the above objects in mind which is of simple construction, has a minimum number of parts, is inexpensive to manufacture and efficient in use.

For other objects and a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view showing a preferred embodiment of the present invention in operative use;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged elevational view shown partly in section of a portion of the device; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Referring now more in detail to the drawing, indicates generally a conventional mufiler connected at its front and rear ends to the manifold exhaust pipe 11 and the tail pipe 12 by means of the flanges 13 and 14, substantially as illustrated.

In the practice of my invention an improved tool is provided for splitting the flanges 13 and 14 and thereby facilitating the removal of the mulllers 10 and includes an elongated lever 15 integrally formed at its lower end with the rounded U-shaped portion 16.

The lower end of the U-shaped portion 16 is split, as at 17 and rotatably mounts therewith a cutter 18 by means of a pin 19 having an enlarged head and a cotter pin 20. A washer will be provided on the pin 19. The cutter blade 18 includes a hook-shaped, sharp cutting edge 21 adapted to penetrate the outer end of flange 13.

The cutter blade 18 may, of course, be mounted by other suitable means, for example a rivet piercing the cutter blade and the sides of the slot 17.

A bar 22 is provided at one end with a slot which receives therewithin the lower end of the lever 15 above the U-shaped portion 16 thereof, a pivotal connection being effected by means of the pin 23 having an enlarged head and the cotter pin 24, a washer being provided thereat. The bar 22 is provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced circular openings 25 extending from end to end.

A rod 26 has one end thereof bent upwardly at right angles at 27 to fit upwardly within one of the openings 25, being provided with the opening 28 which receives therethrough a cotter pin 29, a washer being provided thereat. The other end of the rod 26 is bent downwardly in a hook formation 30 (Fig. 5) adapted to engage the end of the muffler 10 (Fig. 1). The rod 26 is further secured to the bar 22 by means of a second pin 31 extending upwardly thereto at right angles and welded or otherwise secured thereto, the pin 31 at its upper end having a cotter pin opening 32 which receives therethrough the cotter pin 33, a washer being provided thereat. By means of this construction, the cotter pins 29 and 33 may be removed to permit the longitudinal adjustment of the bar or rod 26 relative to bar 22 and to thereby accommodate the device to mufllers 10 of varying length.

In operation, the lever 15 is moved from the full line position of Fig. 1 to the dotted line position with the hook portion 30 in engagement with one end of the muffler and the cutting edge 21 engaging the flange at the other end. During this movement leverage will be applied to the cutter blade 18 about the axis of the rivet or pin 23 to shear the flange 13 and to facilitate the removal of the mufller therefrom. Upon reversing the tool, the flange 14 will be similarly sheared. The cutter blade 18 is of high grade cutting steel. The ends of the bar 22 are rolled over into eyes which receive therethrough the shackle bolt 23 or pin.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A muflier flange splitting tool comprising a lever, cutter blade means at the lower end of said lever adapted to shear the mufller flange, an elongated bar pivotally connected to said lever near said cutter blade means, and adjustable means at the other end of said bar for engaging the other end of the muffler.

2. A muffler flange splitting tool according to claim 1, said cutter blade means comprising a laterally extending U-shaped portion integrally formed at the lower end of said lever, the lower end of said U-shaped portion having an inwardly extending slot, a cutter blade positioned within said slot, fastening means rotatably mounting said cutter blade within said slot, said slot having a straight inner end engaging the straight inner edge of said cutting blade, said cutting blade having a hook shaped, sharp cutting edge adapted to shear the flange of the muffler.

3. A mufller flange splitting tool according to claim 2, said adjustable fastening means comprising said bar having a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings therethrough, a rod adapted to fit against the undersurface of said bar and having an upwardly extending portion at one end at right angles thereto adapted to extend through a selected one of said openings, a second upwardly extending portion carried by said rod adapted to extend through another of said openings, means for securing said upwardly extending portions within said openings, the other end of said rod being bent downwardly into a hook shaped portion adapted to engage the end of the mufiler.

4. A mufiler flange splitting tool according to claim 3, said securing means comprising the upper end of said upwardly extending portions having openings therethrough, and cotter pins positioned within said openings.

5. A mufiler flange splitting tool according to claim 4, said means rotatably mounting said bar to said lever comprising the end of said bar being split and receiving said lever therewithin, a shackle bolt piercing the split end of said bar and lever and having an opening through the end thereof and a cotter pin within said opening.

No references cited. 

